2017 NPF

Championship Series

News

Chicago Bandits Take Game 2 from the Tennessee Diamonds, 2-0
Written By: Adam Gierhart

“We came here to win the Championship,” said Chicago Bandits third baseman and 2010 NPF Most Valuable Player, Stacy May. That is the mission for all four NPF teams competing in the Championship Series in Sulphur, La.

Game One between the Chicago Bandits (1-0) and the Tennessee Diamonds (0-1) featured a marquee pitching duel between the Bandits’ Jennie Finch (1-0) and the Diamonds’ Monica Abbott (0-1). It was Finch’s Bandits that left the field victorious and one win away from reaching the Championship Finals, as Finch threw a near perfect game allowing only one hit and two walks en route to a 2-0 victory.

It wasn’t until the third inning did the crowd in Sulphur see a tick on the scoreboard as Stacy May took a Monica Abbott change-up to deep centerfield for a 1-0 lead. Lightning struck twice when Samantha Findlay took a change-up from Abbott deep to left center field. “I was trying to keep them off balance,” says Abbott, “but I threw two change-ups that went [for homeruns]. I play to win. Unfortunately it didn’t go our way today.”

Finch’s no hitter attempt was quickly called to a halt in the sixth inning with two outs when a Shanel Scott bunt went for an infield single on a controversial call at first base. Finch shook off the call and closed out the final four outs to put the Diamonds behind in the series 0-1. “We got it done tonight. We hope to get it done tomorrow too,” says Finch.

The Diamonds hope to “get it done tomorrow” as well. “We’re very familiar with their pitching staff,” says Diamonds’ coach Ernie Reynolds, and the Diamonds have played well against the Bandits as of late, recently taking three of five from the Bandits at their home field in Elgin, Ill.

That was then and this is now. The Bandits lead the series 1-0 and look to sweep the best-of-three game series tomorrow at 6:05 p.m.